NURS 5220 Advanced Health
Assessment Exam Practice Questions
And Correct Answers (Verified Answers)
Plus Rationale 2027 Q&A| Instant
Download Pdf.
1. A 52-year-old patient presents for an initial comprehensive health
assessment. Which action by the advanced practice nurse best
establishes a therapeutic clinician-patient relationship?
A. Immediately beginning the physical examination
B. Using primarily closed-ended questions to save time
C. Introducing oneself, explaining the purpose of the visit, and establishing
confidentiality
D. Reviewing the patient's laboratory results before greeting the patient
Answer: C. Introducing oneself, explaining the purpose of the visit, and
establishing confidentiality
A therapeutic relationship begins with professional introduction,
explanation of the encounter, respect, and attention to confidentiality,
which promote trust and accurate information exchange.
2. Which component of the health history is designed to identify the
patient's primary reason for seeking care in the patient's own words?
A. Past medical history
B. Chief complaint
,C. Review of systems
D. Family history
Answer: B. Chief complaint
The chief complaint identifies the main reason for the encounter and
should ideally be documented using the patient's own words.
3. During an interview, a patient states, "I've been feeling tired lately."
Which response is most appropriate for obtaining additional
information?
A. "Are you depressed?"
B. "You probably need more sleep."
C. "Tell me more about the fatigue you've been experiencing."
D. "Have you had anemia before?"
Answer: C. "Tell me more about the fatigue you've been experiencing."
An open-ended response encourages the patient to describe symptoms in
greater detail without prematurely narrowing the diagnostic possibilities.
4. Which question is most appropriate when assessing the onset of a
patient's abdominal pain?
A. "Is the pain severe?"
B. "When did the pain first begin?"
C. "Does the pain radiate?"
D. "What makes the pain better?"
Answer: B. "When did the pain first begin?"
Onset refers to when a symptom began, and establishing the temporal
sequence is an essential component of symptom characterization.
5. Which approach best assesses the quality of a patient's pain?
,A. Asking whether it began suddenly or gradually
B. Asking whether it is constant or intermittent
C. Asking whether it feels sharp, burning, pressure-like, or aching
D. Asking whether it occurs before or after meals
Answer: C. Asking whether it feels sharp, burning, pressure-like, or aching
Pain quality describes the patient's sensory experience and may provide
important clues about the underlying pathophysiology.
6. A patient reports chest pain. Which question best assesses radiation?
A. "How severe is the pain?"
B. "Does the pain move anywhere else?"
C. "What were you doing when the pain started?"
D. "How long does each episode last?"
Answer: B. "Does the pain move anywhere else?"
Radiation refers to whether discomfort spreads from its primary location
to another area, which can help distinguish among potential causes of
pain.
7. Which element of the OPQRST framework evaluates factors that
worsen or relieve a symptom?
A. Provocation and palliation
B. Quality
C. Region and radiation
D. Severity
Answer: A. Provocation and palliation
Provocation and palliation identify activities, positions, medications, or
other factors that make a symptom worse or better.
, 8. A patient rates headache pain as 8 out of 10. What aspect of symptom
assessment does this rating primarily represent?
A. Quality
B. Severity
C. Radiation
D. Timing
Answer: B. Severity
A numerical pain rating provides an estimate of symptom intensity or
severity from the patient's perspective.
9. Which statement best describes the purpose of the review of
systems?
A. To establish a definitive diagnosis before the physical examination
B. To systematically identify symptoms involving different body systems
C. To replace the past medical history
D. To document only positive physical findings
Answer: B. To systematically identify symptoms involving different body
systems
The review of systems is a structured inventory of symptoms organized by
body system and helps identify concerns that may not have emerged
during the history of the present illness.
10. Which finding belongs in the constitutional portion of the review
of systems?
A. Dysuria
B. Diplopia
C. Unintentional weight loss
D. Hemoptysis
Answer: C. Unintentional weight loss
Assessment Exam Practice Questions
And Correct Answers (Verified Answers)
Plus Rationale 2027 Q&A| Instant
Download Pdf.
1. A 52-year-old patient presents for an initial comprehensive health
assessment. Which action by the advanced practice nurse best
establishes a therapeutic clinician-patient relationship?
A. Immediately beginning the physical examination
B. Using primarily closed-ended questions to save time
C. Introducing oneself, explaining the purpose of the visit, and establishing
confidentiality
D. Reviewing the patient's laboratory results before greeting the patient
Answer: C. Introducing oneself, explaining the purpose of the visit, and
establishing confidentiality
A therapeutic relationship begins with professional introduction,
explanation of the encounter, respect, and attention to confidentiality,
which promote trust and accurate information exchange.
2. Which component of the health history is designed to identify the
patient's primary reason for seeking care in the patient's own words?
A. Past medical history
B. Chief complaint
,C. Review of systems
D. Family history
Answer: B. Chief complaint
The chief complaint identifies the main reason for the encounter and
should ideally be documented using the patient's own words.
3. During an interview, a patient states, "I've been feeling tired lately."
Which response is most appropriate for obtaining additional
information?
A. "Are you depressed?"
B. "You probably need more sleep."
C. "Tell me more about the fatigue you've been experiencing."
D. "Have you had anemia before?"
Answer: C. "Tell me more about the fatigue you've been experiencing."
An open-ended response encourages the patient to describe symptoms in
greater detail without prematurely narrowing the diagnostic possibilities.
4. Which question is most appropriate when assessing the onset of a
patient's abdominal pain?
A. "Is the pain severe?"
B. "When did the pain first begin?"
C. "Does the pain radiate?"
D. "What makes the pain better?"
Answer: B. "When did the pain first begin?"
Onset refers to when a symptom began, and establishing the temporal
sequence is an essential component of symptom characterization.
5. Which approach best assesses the quality of a patient's pain?
,A. Asking whether it began suddenly or gradually
B. Asking whether it is constant or intermittent
C. Asking whether it feels sharp, burning, pressure-like, or aching
D. Asking whether it occurs before or after meals
Answer: C. Asking whether it feels sharp, burning, pressure-like, or aching
Pain quality describes the patient's sensory experience and may provide
important clues about the underlying pathophysiology.
6. A patient reports chest pain. Which question best assesses radiation?
A. "How severe is the pain?"
B. "Does the pain move anywhere else?"
C. "What were you doing when the pain started?"
D. "How long does each episode last?"
Answer: B. "Does the pain move anywhere else?"
Radiation refers to whether discomfort spreads from its primary location
to another area, which can help distinguish among potential causes of
pain.
7. Which element of the OPQRST framework evaluates factors that
worsen or relieve a symptom?
A. Provocation and palliation
B. Quality
C. Region and radiation
D. Severity
Answer: A. Provocation and palliation
Provocation and palliation identify activities, positions, medications, or
other factors that make a symptom worse or better.
, 8. A patient rates headache pain as 8 out of 10. What aspect of symptom
assessment does this rating primarily represent?
A. Quality
B. Severity
C. Radiation
D. Timing
Answer: B. Severity
A numerical pain rating provides an estimate of symptom intensity or
severity from the patient's perspective.
9. Which statement best describes the purpose of the review of
systems?
A. To establish a definitive diagnosis before the physical examination
B. To systematically identify symptoms involving different body systems
C. To replace the past medical history
D. To document only positive physical findings
Answer: B. To systematically identify symptoms involving different body
systems
The review of systems is a structured inventory of symptoms organized by
body system and helps identify concerns that may not have emerged
during the history of the present illness.
10. Which finding belongs in the constitutional portion of the review
of systems?
A. Dysuria
B. Diplopia
C. Unintentional weight loss
D. Hemoptysis
Answer: C. Unintentional weight loss
